Palanquin Bearers Summary and Explanation

 

Jammu and Kashmir Board Class 9  English Poem 9 Palanquin Bearers Summary, Explanation along with Difficult Word Meanings from English Tulip Book

 

Palanquin Bearers Summary  – Are you looking for the summary, theme and Lesson explanation for Jammu and Kashmir Board of Secondary Education (JKBOSE) Class 9 English Poem 9 – Palanquin Bearers from Tulip Book. Get Lesson summary, theme, explanation along with difficult word meanings.

 

JKBOSE Class 9 English Main Course Book Poem 9 – Palanquin Bearers

by Sarojini Naidu

 

“Palanquin Bearers” by Sarojini Naidu is a melodious and lyrical poem that beautifully describes the journey of a bride carried in a palanquin. The poet presents the feelings of the palanquin bearers, who move lightly and joyfully while singing. 

 

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Palanquin Bearers Summary 

“Palanquin Bearers” is a beautiful lyrical poem by Sarojini Naidu that describes palanquin bearers carrying a bride to her new home, upon her marriage. The poem is written from the perspective of the bearers themselves.

In the first stanza, the bearers express their joy and lightness as they carry the bride. They move gaily and sing as they go. The bride is compared to delicate and beautiful things – she sways like a flower in the wind, skims like a bird over water, and floats like laughter from a dream. The bearers carry her as carefully as a precious pearl on a string.

In the second stanza, the mood becomes softer and more tender. The bride is now compared to a star hanging in dew, a beam of light dancing on water, and significantly, a tear falling from a bride’s eyes. This last comparison captures the bittersweet emotions of a bride leaving her parental home – the mixture of joy for her new life and sadness at leaving her family.

Throughout the poem, the bearers emphasize how lightly and carefully they carry the bride, showing their respect and reverence for her. The poem beautifully captures an important cultural tradition while highlighting the delicate beauty of the bride and the mixed emotions associated with marriage.

 

Summary  of the Poem Palanquin Bearers in Hindi

“पालकी उठाने वाले” सरोजिनी नायडू की एक सुंदर गीतात्मक कविता है जो पालकी उठाने वालों द्वारा एक दुल्हन को उसके नए घर ले जाने का वर्णन करती है। कविता स्वयं पालकी उठाने वालों के दृष्टिकोण से लिखी गई है।

पहले छंद में, पालकी उठाने वाले दुल्हन को ले जाते समय अपनी खुशी और हल्केपन को व्यक्त करते हैं। वे प्रसन्नता से चलते हैं और गाते हैं। दुल्हन की तुलना नाजुक और सुंदर चीजों से की गई है – वह हवा में फूल की तरह झूमती है, पानी पर पक्षी की तरह उड़ती है, और सपने से निकली हंसी की तरह तैरती है। पालकी उठाने वाले उसे धागे पर मोती की तरह सावधानी से ले जाते हैं।

दूसरे छंद में, मनोदशा अधिक कोमल और नरम हो जाती है। अब दुल्हन की तुलना ओस में लटके तारे, पानी पर नाचती रोशनी की किरण, और महत्वपूर्ण रूप से, दुल्हन की आंखों से गिरते आंसू से की जाती है। यह अंतिम तुलना दुल्हन के मायके छोड़ने की मिली-जुली भावनाओं को दर्शाती है – उसके नए जीवन के लिए खुशी और अपने परिवार को छोड़ने का दुख।

पूरी कविता में, पालकी उठाने वाले इस बात पर जोर देते हैं कि वे दुल्हन को कितनी हल्की और सावधानी से ले जाते हैं, जो उनके प्रति सम्मान और श्रद्धा दिखाता है। यह कविता एक महत्वपूर्ण सांस्कृतिक परंपरा को खूबसूरती से दर्शाती है और साथ ही दुल्हन की नाजुक सुंदरता और विवाह से जुड़ी मिश्रित भावनाओं को उजागर करती है।

 

Theme of the Poem Palanquin Bearers

Joy and Celebration
The poem expresses happiness and festivity as the palanquin bearers sing while carrying the bride. Their cheerful mood reflects a wedding celebration.

Grace and Beauty of the Bride
The bride is compared to natural and delicate images like a flower, bird, star, and pearl, highlighting her elegance and charm.

Sensitivity and Care
The bearers carry the bride lightly and softly, showing their respect and awareness of her delicate presence.

Tradition and Culture
The poem presents the palanquin as a symbol of Indian cultural tradition associated with royal and wedding ceremonies.

Music and Rhythm
The repeated lines and flowing rhythm create a song-like effect, showing how music accompanies human emotions.

 

Palanquin Bearers Poem Explanation 

Stanza
Lightly, O lightly we bear her along,
She sways like a flower in the wind of our song;
She skims like a bird on the foam of a stream,
She floats like a laugh from the lips of a dream.
Gaily, O gaily we glide and we sing,
We bear her along like a pearl on a string.

Word Meanings
lightly: gently; softly
bear: carry
sways: moves gently from side to side
skims: moves lightly over a surface
foam: white bubbles on water
floats: moves smoothly and lightly
gaily: happily; cheerfully
glide: move smoothly and effortlessly
pearl: a precious gem
string: a thin thread or cord

Explanation: The palanquin bearers describe how gently and joyfully they carry the bride. She moves softly with their rhythm, just like a flower swaying in the breeze or a bird skimming over water. Her movement feels light and dream-like,as if she is floating in a beautiful dream. The bearers are cheerful and sing as they walk, showing their happiness and care. They compare her to a pearl on a string to suggest her beauty,preciousness and the delicate way in which they carry her.

 

Stanza
Softly, O softly we bear her along,
She hangs like a star in the dew of our song;
She springs like a beam on the brow of the tide,
She falls like a tear from the eyes of a bride.
Lightly, O lightly we glide and we sing,
We bear her along like a pearl on a string.

Word Meanings
softly: gently; quietly
hangs: seems to rest lightly
dew: tiny drops of moisture on grass or leaves
springs: moves lightly and quickly
beam: a ray of light
brow: surface or top part
tide: the rising and falling of the sea
falls: drops gently

Explanation: The palanquin bearers describe the bride as extremely delicate and graceful. They carry her very gently, as if she is light and precious. She is compared to a star shining softly in the dew, showing her beauty and purity. Her movement is quick and smooth like a ray of light on water, and at the same time tender like a tear from a bride’s eyes. The bearers sing happily as they move, showing their joy and care. The comparison to a pearl on a string highlights her value and the careful way in which she is carried.

 

Palanquin Bearers Poetic device 

1. Simile
The poet uses similes to compare the bride with beautiful and delicate objects using like and as. Examples:
“She sways like a flower in the wind”
“She skims like a bird on the foam of a stream”
“She hangs like a star in the dew”
“We bear her along like a pearl on a string”

2. Imagery
The poem creates vivid visual and movement images, helping us imagine the bride’s gentle motion and beauty.

3. Refrain
Lines like “Lightly, O lightly we bear her along” and “We bear her along like a pearl on a string” are repeated, creating musical rhythm and emphasis.

4. Alliteration
Repetition of consonant sounds adds musical effect.
Example: “Softly, O softly”, “Gaily, O gaily”

5. Contrast
The poet contrasts joy and sadness in lines like “laugh” and “tear”, showing mixed emotions of a bride.

 

Conclusion 

This post covers the poem ‘Palanquin Bearers’ from JKBOSE Class 9 English Tulip book. Students can take help of the summary, explanation and word meanings to get a clear understanding of the text.